Composite moldboard unit for countertop

ABSTRACT

A composite moldboard unit includes a main portion and a buckle structure. The main portion has a horizontal side and a vertical side. An engagement rabbet and an edge are formed at the lower end of the vertical side. The buckle structure is a substantially arc-shaped barricade portion. A button block is formed at the lower end of the barricade portion and may engage with the engagement rabbet. A space may be formed by and between the barricade portion and the main portion and may hold cementing material. In addition, the barricade portion in various types of shape can be used to generate different patterns. Also, the composite moldboard unit of the present invention has a smaller size or volume and hence the packaging, transport and storage of it would be easier and less costly. As a result, the overall production cost is reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the molding of countertop. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a composite moldboard unit, whichmay be used for the molding of a countertop, and makes thetransportation and storage of it easier and reduces the non-conformingrate in manufacturing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A countertop in the kitchen is used for food preparation. To make itmore aesthetically appealing and easier to clean, an additional flatsurface, which is made of wood, stainless steel, marble, foam board,natural slab/stone, melamine plywood, melamine or artificial slab/stone,is often installed. Such additional surface is water-resistant andprotects the countertop. In addition, different type of material may beselected for different applications and there are various types ofpatterns to choose. However, the one-piece moldboard in the prior art isintegrally formed and hence is oversized. Therefore, the non-conformingrate in its production is higher. In addition, because of its largersize or volume, the costs in the packaging, transportation and storageof it are higher. A bigger space is needed for its storage and biggervehicles or more trips are needed to transport them. Therefore, theoverall production cost is higher and hence its selling price would behigher. As a result, this does not benefit the manufacturers andconsuming public and does not help the upgrading of the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a composite moldboardunit, which may be used for the molding of a countertop.

To reach these objects, the composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention is disclosed. The composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention comprises a main portion and a buckle structure. The mainportion has a horizontal side and a vertical side. An engagement rabbet,which has a specific shape, and an edge are formed at the lower end ofthe vertical side. The buckle structure is a substantially arc-shapedbarricade portion. A button block is formed at the lower end of thebarricade portion and may engage with the engagement rabbet. A space maybe formed by and between the barricade portion and the main portion andmay hold cementing material.

Therefore, the composite moldboard unit of the present invention has asmaller size or volume and hence the packaging, transportation andstorage of it would be easier. As a result, the overall production costis reduced.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a female positioning portionis provided on the bearing surface portion and may engage with a malepositioning portion provided on the buckle structure.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a male positioningportion is provided on the main portion and may engage with a femalepositioning portion provided on the connective portion. Therefore,through such engagement, the connection between the main portion and thebuckle structure may be more secure.

Also, the buckle structure consists of the following three segments,namely, the upper half has a semi-circular segment, a straight segmentand the lower half is a semi-circular segment. Therefore, the aforesaidspace includes two semi-circular segments.

In an embodiment, the barricade portion has a semi-circular shape andthe space also has a semi-circular shape.

In another embodiment, the buckle structure consists of two segments,namely, the upper one-third of the buckle structure being a straightsegment and the lower two-thirds being an arc-shaped segment. Therefore,the aforesaid space includes a straight segment and an arc-shapedsegment.

In yet another embodiment, the buckle structure consists of twosegments, namely, the upper half of the buckle structure being astep-shaped segment (tapering in the upward direction) and the lowerhalf being an arc-shaped segment. Therefore, the aforesaid spaceincludes a step-shaped segment and an arc-shaped segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings disclose three illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention which serve to exemplify the various advantages and objectshereof, and are as follows:

FIGS. 1 to 6 are sectional views and partially enlarged views of thefirst embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention in a disassembled condition.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views and partially enlarged views of thesecond embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention in a disassembled condition.

FIG. 9 contains a sectional view and a partially enlarged view of thethird embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention in a disassembled condition.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a space formed by the main portion andthe barricade portion.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating cementing material has been poured intothe space.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the buckle structure is detached afterthe cementing material solidifies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 6, which illustrate the first embodiment ofthe composite moldboard unit of the present invention. The compositemoldboard unit of the present invention may be used for the molding of acountertop 32. The composite moldboard unit of the present inventioncomprises a main portion 1 and a buckle structure 2. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the dimensions of both the main portion 1 and the bucklestructure 2 match the dimensions of a countertop 32. The compositemoldboard unit may be placed along the outer perimeter of the countertop32 and is used with an additional L-shaped moldboard 1′. Bolts are usedto affix the L-shaped moldboard 1′ between a wall 31 and the countertop32. Then, pour pre-mixed cementing material 33 into the space formed bythe main portion 1 and the buckle structure 2. After the cementingmaterial 33 solidifies, remove the buckle structure 2, as illustrated inFIG. 12. Now, the molding of the countertop 32 is completed.

The main portion 1 has a horizontal side 11 and a vertical side 12. Anengagement rabbet 13, which has a specific shape, and an edge 14 areformed at the lower end of the vertical side 12. The main portion 1 hasan L-shape and may also be used as a wall mold 1′ so as to reduce thecost.

The buckle structure 2 is a substantially arc-shaped barricade portion21 or includes at least an arc-shaped barricade portion 21. A buttonblock 22 is formed at the lower end of the barricade portion 21 and mayengage with the engagement rabbet 13. A space 23 may be formed by andbetween the barricade portion 21 and the main portion 1, as illustratedby FIG. 10. The space 23 may hold the aforesaid cementing material 33.

In use, first, the main portion 1 is affixed by bolts. Then, the bucklestructure 2 is connected with the main portion 1 through the engagementof the button block 22 and the engagement rabbet 13. The edge 14 wouldprovide secure connection and support to support the weight of thecementing material 33 placed in the space 23. In this way, the compositemoldboard unit of the present invention would have the same amount ofrigidity as the integrally formed mold of the prior art. After thecementing material 33 solidifies, the buckle structure 2 and the lowerportion of the main portion 1 are removed, as illustrated in FIG. 12.Now, molding is completed. In addition, an indented portion 15 may beprovided on the inner side of the lower end of the main portion 1 sothat the lower portion may be bent and detached more easily.

Now, please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, which illustrate the secondembodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the present invention. Abearing surface portion 16 is additionally provided on the vertical side12 of the main portion 1. A turning juncture is formed at the junctureof the vertical side 12 and the bearing surface portion 16. Anengagement rabbet 13, which has a specific shape, and an edge 14 areprovided on the lower portion of the vertical side 12. An indentedportion 15 may be provided on the inner side of the lower end of themain portion 1 so that the lower portion may be bent and detached moreeasily.

A connective portion 24 extends from the barricade portion 21. Theconnective portion 24 is horizontal and may press against the bearingsurface portion 16 of the main portion 1 in use. A button block 22,which extends upwards, is formed at the lower end of the connectiveportion 24 and may engage with the engagement rabbet 13. A barricadeportion 21 extends from the connective portion 24 and may have varioustypes of arc shape. A space 23 may be formed by and between thebarricade portion 21, the connective portion 24 and the main portion 1.The space 23 may hold the aforesaid cementing material 33. Therefore,after the cementing material 33 solidifies, a countertop 34 with varioustypes of rounded edge or arc-shaped edge may be formed so as to make thecountertop 34 more aesthetically appealing and so that such countertopwith rounded edge will be safer.

In the composite moldboard unit of the present invention, in comparisonto the prior art one-piece moldboard, which is integrally formed andhence is oversized, the moldboard unit of the present invention has twopieces (a main portion 1 and a buckle structure 2) and hence the mainportion 1 and the buckle structure 2 may be manufactured and thenpackaged separately. Therefore, in comparison to the prior art one-piecemoldboard, thanks to the reduced size or volume of the compositemoldboard unit of the present invention, the higher non-conforming ratein manufacturing may be lowered and the difficulty in packaging may beeliminated. In addition, the transport of the composite moldboard unitof the present invention becomes easier and the shipping cost may bereduced. Also, the moldboard unit takes up less space in warehouse.Therefore, the overall production cost is lowered and hence the sellingprice may be lowered. As a result, both the manufacturers and consumingpublic can benefit from the composite moldboard unit of the presentinvention. This is the ultimate goal of the composite moldboard unit ofthe present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which illustrates the third embodiment of thecomposite moldboard unit of the present invention. A rectangular malepositioning portion 17 is provided on the bearing surface portion 16 andmay engage with a female positioning portion 25 provided on theconnective portion 24. Therefore, through such engagement, theconnection between the main portion 1 and the buckle structure 2 may bemore secure.

In light of the aforesaid three embodiments of the present invention,the composite moldboard unit of the present invention has the followingadvantages. First, the main portion may be regarded as a standardcomponent, which may be used with a buckle structure with a barricadeportion in various types of arc shape. Therefore, a manufacturer onlyhas to pay for the costs for the development and manufacturing of thebuckle structure. In addition, in the prior art one-piece moldboard,each type of the one-piece moldboard requires a separate, oversized moldand a manufacturer usually has to have a bigger warehouse to store thesemolds. In the composite moldboard unit of the present invention, thanksto the reduced size or volume, less space is needed for the storage ofthe molds and these moldboard units; in addition, the cost in transportis lowered. Therefore, the overall production cost is lowered. Moreover,because the buckle structure of the present invention has a barricadeportion in various types of arc shape, consuming public can have morechoices and thus the manufacturers may become more competitive in termsof such choices.

Many changes and modifications in the above described three embodimentsof the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing fromthe scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science andthe useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composite moldboard unit for countertop,comprising: a main portion, having a horizontal side and a verticalside, wherein an engagement rabbet, which has a specific shape, and anedge are formed at the lower end of the vertical side; and a bucklestructure, which is a substantially arc-shaped barricade portion,wherein a button block is formed at the lower end of the barricadeportion and may engage with the engagement rabbet, and wherein a spacemay be formed by and between the barricade portion and the main portion,and may hold cementing material.
 2. The composite moldboard unit as inclaim 1, wherein an indented portion may be provided on the inner sideof the lower end of the main portion so that the lower portion may bebent and detached more easily.
 3. The composite moldboard unit as inclaim 1, wherein a bearing surface portion is additionally provided onthe vertical side of the main portion and a turning juncture is formedat the juncture of the vertical side and the bearing surface portion,and wherein an engagement rabbet, which has a specific shape, and anedge are provided on the lower portion of the vertical side.
 4. Thecomposite moldboard unit as in claim 3, wherein an indented portion maybe provided on the inner side of the lower end of the main portion sothat the lower portion may be bent and detached more easily.
 5. Thecomposite moldboard unit as in claim 3, wherein a rectangular malepositioning portion is provided on the bearing surface portion of themain portion.
 6. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 1, wherein aconnective portion extends from the barricade portion, and wherein abutton block, which extends upwards, is formed at the lower end of theconnective portion and may engage with the engagement rabbet of the mainportion.
 7. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 6, wherein a femalepositioning portion is provided on the lower side the connective portionof the buckle structure.